RENTON — Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch did not practice Wednesday, underscoring the uncertainty of his status after suffering back spasms last month.

“We’ll have to take him day by day,” coach Pete Carroll said. “See how he responds to the work, and we really won’t know until the end of the week unless something changes.”

Lynch suffered the spasms after playing in Seattle’s second exhibition game, Aug. 18 in Denver. He played a quarter. He has not practiced since. Lynch was asked before practice Wednesday if he thought he would be able to play in Sunday’s regular-season opener at Arizona.

“The goal is to,” Lynch said. “But I’ll stay ready. If I do, I do, and if I don’t, I don’t.”

And if he doesn’t, that would leave rookie Robert Turbin the likely starter with Leon Washington and Kregg Lumpkin also available, in addition to starting fullback Michael Robinson.

“Our backfield has looked phenomenal with Leon, with Robert, with Lump and Mike Rob back there,” Lynch said. “It’s almost like with any back we put in there that we’re going to be able to be successful regardless, and that’s a big accomplishment for our offensive linemen.”

“He is aerobically in good shape,” Carroll said. “We need to get him back his football legs and get him enough reps to do that. He’ll go real light today, and he’ll continue to progress as we go through the week. We’ll just have to wait and see. I can’t call it for you now.”

Sweezy does it

Rookie J.R. Sweezy will start the regular season at right guard for the Seahawks even after John Moffitt returned from elbow surgery to play last week.

“He’s earned his way,” Carroll said of Sweezy.

Sweezy is a seventh-round draft choice from North Carolina State, where he played defensive line. He didn’t even play offensive line in high school, instead playing fullback.

“He’s really tough,” Carroll said. “He’ll make plays. If you keep your eye on him, he’s going to make plays knocking people down and getting out on the perimeter and getting downfield because he runs so well and he’s so athletic and he’s got this nature about hitting people that we just love.”

Sweezy will be one of three rookies expected to start for Seattle this week, joining quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner.

Notes

• WR Golden Tate sat out practice Wednesday, and will run on Thursday for the first time since suffering a sprained knee in last week’s exhibition finale. If Tate is unable to play, Braylon Edwards is expected to start at split end.